The Armey Primary

Former House Majority Leader Richard K. Armey of Texas is a loyal Republican, but on Monday he declared that Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) was "the most able politician in America" and would win the presidential election.

At a luncheon speech sponsored by his employer, the law firm DLA Piper, Armey said, "I don't think Hillary Clinton is going to make a mistake. She's going to win that election." Armey also said Clinton was a "fascinating person" and extremely tough. "Don't mess with her" was Armey's advice to her fellow candidates.

His advice to his fellow Republicans was to keep their distance from James Dobson, the influential head of the evangelical group Focus on the Family. "You could probably hurt yourself electorally by making Jim Dobson happy," Armey said.

As for his prediction about the old stomping grounds, the U.S. Congress, Armey was not hopeful for the prospects of his fellow Republicans. Democrats, he said, "will hold both bodies" after the 2008 elections.